TOP 100 COURSES IN THE U.S. 2020/2021 When it comes to course design, it’s the ultimate badge of honor: a spot on GOLF’s biennial rank of the best courses in America. This year, we welcome a record 17 new entries—and beauty you won’t find anywhere else.
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COURSE S in THE U.S.
202020 2021
BY GOLF’S COURSE RATINGS PANEL AND RAN MORRISSETT, ARCHITECTURE EDITOR
101 TOP 100 COURSES IN THE U.S 2020 / 2021
2020-21 COURSE NAME, CITY, STATE, AVERAGE 2020-21 COURSE NAME, CITY, STATE, AVERAGE 2020-21 COURSE NAME, CITY, STATE, AVERAGE 2020-21 COURSE NAME, CITY, STATE, AVERAGE RANK ARCHITECT, YEAR OPENED SCORE RANK ARCHITECT, YEAR OPENED SCORE RANK ARCHITECT, YEAR OPENED SCORE RANK ARCHITECT, YEAR OPENED SCORE
1 - PINE VALLEY PINE VALLEY, NJ 97.35 26 5 Camargo CINCINNATI, OH 62.96 50 8 Wade Hampton CASHIERS, NC 52.56 75 3 Baltimore (Five Farms East) 46.91 GEORGE CRUMP/H.S. COLT, 1918 SETH RAYNOR, 1926 TOM FAZIO, 1987 BALTIMORE, MD A.W. TILLINGHAST, 1926
2 - CYPRESS POINT PEBBLE 97.14 27 9 California Club of San 62.90 51 22 Muirfield Village DUBLIN, OH 52.54 76 NEW! White Bear Yacht Club WHITE 46.75 BEACH, CA ALISTER MACKENZIE, 1928 Francisco SO. SAN FRANCISCO, CA JACK NICKLAUS/DESMOND MUIRHEAD, 1974 BEAR LAKE, MN WILLIAM WATSON, 1915 A.V. MACAN, 1926/ALISTER MACKENZIE, 1928/ 3 1 SHINNECOCK HILLS 92.87 KYLE PHILLIPS, 2007 52 2 Old Sandwich PLYMOUTH, MA 52.10 77 30 Streamsong (Red) STREAMSONG, 46.74 SOUTHAMPTON, NY TOOMEY & FLYNN, 1931 BILL COORE/BEN CRENSHAW, 2004 FL BILL COORE/BEN CRENSHAW, 2012 28 6 Southern Hills TULSA, OK 60.57 PERRY MAXWELL, 1936 78 NEW! St. Louis ST. LOUIS, MO 46.46 4 1 NATIONAL GOLF LINKS 91.47 53 9 Eastward Ho! CHATHAM, MA 51.76 C.B. MACDONALD, 1914 OF AMERICA SOUTHAMPTON, NY HERBERT FOWLER, 1922 C.B. MACDONALD, 1911 29 6 Maidstone EAST HAMPTON, NY 60.07 JOHN PARK/WILLIE PARK JR., 1922 79 NEW! Kingsley KINGSLEY, MI 46.38 54 21 Olympic (Lake) DALY CITY, CA 51.73 OAKMONT, PA MIKE DEVRIES, 2001 5 1 OAKMONT 86.22 SAM WHITING, 1924 HENRY FOWNES, 1903 30 7 Bethpage (Black) FARMINGDALE, 59.93 NY A.W. TILLINGHAST, 1935 80 NEW! Sheep Ranch BANDON, OR 46.33 55 7 Valley Club of Montecito 51.67 AUGUSTA, BILL COORE/BEN CRENSHAW, 2020 6 3 AUGUSTA NATIONAL 84.93 MONTECITO, CA GA ALISTER MACKENZIE/BOBBY JONES, 1933 31 6 Kiawah Island (Ocean) 59.51 ALISTER MACKENZIE/ROBERT HUNTER, 1929 KIAWAH ISLAND, SC PETE DYE, 1991 81 20 Shadow Creek LAS VEGAS, NV 46.02 SAND HILLS MULLEN, NE 84.46 TOM FAZIO, 1990 7 2 56 13 Piping Rock LOCUST VALLEY, NY 51.38 BILL COORE/BEN CRENSHAW, 1994 NEW! 59.21 32 Ohoopee Match Club C.B. MACDONALD, 1911 COBBTOWN, GA 82 NEW! Prairie Club (Dunes) VALENTINE, 46.00 - MERION (EAST) 82.44 GIL HANSE, 2018 NE TOM LEHMAN/CHRIS BRANDS, 2010 8 Plainfield PLAINFIELD, NJ 51.28 ARDMORE, PA HUGH WILSON, 1912 57 3 DONALD ROSS, 1916 33 11 Inverness TOLEDO, OH 59.12 83 NEW! Hollywood DEAL, NJ 45.83 FISHERS ISLAND 81.09 DONALD ROSS, 1919/ANDREW GREEN, 2017 WALTER TRAVIS, 1915 9 2 Kittansett MARION, MA 51.09 FISHERS ISLAND, NY SETH RAYNOR, 1926 58 8 WILLIAM FLYNN/FRED HOOD, 1922 34 8 Ballyneal HOLYOKE, CO 58.95 84 13 Newport NEWPORT, RI 45.81 PEBBLE BEACH PEBBLE BEACH, 79.64 TOM DOAK, 2006 WILLIAM F. DAVIS, 1899/A.W. TILLINGHAST, 1924 10 3 Pasatiempo SANTA CRUZ, CA 50.50 CA JACK NEVILLE/DOUGLAS GRANT, 1919 59 6 ALISTER MACKENZIE, 1929 35 11 Oakland Hills (South) 58.43 85 9 Monterey Peninsula (Dunes) 45.49 11 1 Pinehurst (No. 2) PINEHURST, NC 78.86 BLOOMFIELD HILLS, MI PEBBLE BEACH, CA SETH RAYNOR, 1924/ 60 NEW! Pikewood National MORGANTOWN, 50.42 DONALD ROSS, 1907 DONALD ROSS, 1917/ROBERT TRENT TOM FAZIO/JACKSON KAHN, 2015 WV J. ROBERT GWYNNE/JOHN RAESE, 2009 JONES SR., 1950 NEW! 12 1 Los Angeles (North) 77.68 NEW! Glens Falls QUEENSBURY, NY 45.45 61 Gamble Sands BREWSTER, WA 50.36 86 LOS ANGELES, CA 36 60 Sleepy Hollow SCARBOROUGH, NY 57.89 DONALD ROSS, 1920 DAVID MCLAY KIDD, 2014 GEORGE C. THOMAS JR., 1921 C.B. MACDONALD/SETH RAYNOR, 1913/ A.W. TILLINGHAST, 1929/GIL HANSE, 2017 T87 NEW! Lawsonia (Links) GREEN LAKE, WI 45.00 62 28 The Creek LOCUST VALLEY, NY 50.29 13 8 Friar’s Head BAITING HOLLOW, NY 75.14 BILL LANGFORD/TED MOREAU, 1930 C.B. MACDONALD/SETH RAYNOR, 1923 BILL COORE/BEN CRENSHAW, 2003 37 12 Peachtree ATLANTA, GA 57.72 NEW! ROBERT TRENT JONES SR./BOBBY JONES, 1947 T87 Wolf Point LA HOOD, TX 45.00 15 Honors Course OOLTEWAH, TN 50.00 14 2 Chicago WHEATON, IL 75.07 63 MIKE NUZZO, 2008 PETE DYE, 1983 C.B. MACDONALD, 1895/SETH RAYNOR, 1923 38 8 Bandon Trails BANDON, OR 56.76 BILL COORE/BEN CRENSHAW, 2005 89 8 Aronimink NEWTON SQUARE, PA 44.91 Essex County MANCHESTER- 15 3 Winged Foot (West) 74.44 64 18 49.43 DONALD ROSS, 1928 BY-THE-SEA, MA DONALD ROSS, 1917 MAMARONECK, NY 39 - Quaker Ridge SCARSDALE, NY 55.87 A.W. TILLINGHAST, 1923 A.W. TILLINGHAST, 1926 90 NEW! Mountain Ridge WEST CALDWELL, 44.29 65 24 Moraine KETTERING, OH 49.41 NJ DONALD ROSS, 1929 ALEX CAMPBELL, 1930 16 1 Crystal Downs FRANKFORT, MI 73.42 40 3 Oak Hill (East) PITTSFORD, NY 55.57 ALISTER MACKENZIE/PERRY MAXWELL, 1932 DONALD ROSS, 1921/ANDREW GREEN, 2020 91 39 Sand Valley (Sand Valley) 44.13 66 9 Old Macdonald BANDON, OR 49.34 NEKOOSA, WI 17 3 Riviera 72.84 41 18 Old Town WINSTON-SALEM, NC 55.50 TOM DOAK/JIM URBINA, 2010 BILL COORE/BEN CRENSHAW, 2017 PACIFIC PALISADES, CA PERRY MAXWELL, 1939 GEORGE C. THOMAS JR./BILLY BELL SR., 1926 67 - Monterey Peninsula (Shore) 49.09 92 NEW! Pinehurst (No. 4) PINEHURST, NC 44.12 42 2 The Golf Club NEW ALBANY, OH 55.49 PEBBLE BEACH, CA DONALD ROSS, 1919/GIL HANSE, 2017 BOB BALDOCK, 1962/MIKE STRANTZ, 2004 18 1 Prairie Dunes HUTCHINSON, KS 72.26 PETE DYE, 1967 PERRY MAXWELL, 1937/PRESS MAXWELL, 1957 93 NEW! Palmetto AIKEN, SC 43.75 43 20 Myopia Hunt Club SO. HAMILTON, 55.21 68 12 Bel-Air LOS ANGELES, CA 48.85 H.C. LEEDS, 1897/ALISTER MACKENZIE, 1933 GEORGE C. THOMAS JR./WILLIAM F. BELL, 1926 19 2 Pacific Dunes BANDON, OR 71.30 MA H.C. LEEDS, 1898 TOM DOAK, 2001 T94 26 Nanea KAILUA-KONA, HI 43.33 44 12 Bandon Dunes BANDON, OR 54.93 69 32 Baltusrol (Lower) SPRINGFIELD, NJ 48.38 DAVID MCLAY KIDD, 2003 A.W. TILLINGHAST, 1922 20 6 Seminole JUNO BEACH, FL 71.00 DAVID MCLAY KIDD, 1999 DONALD ROSS, 1929 T94 30 Streamsong (Blue) STREAMSONG, 43.33 45 15 TPC Sawgrass (Players 54.45 70 25 Gozzer Ranch HARRISON, ID 48.16 FL TOM DOAK, 2012 21 5 San Francisco SAN FRANCISCO, CA 69.81 Stadium) PONTE VEDRA BEACH, FL TOM FAZIO, 2007 A.W. TILLINGHAST, 1918 PETE DYE, 1981 96 NEW! Sand Valley (Mammoth Dunes) 43.08 71 13 Milwaukee RIVER HILLS, WI 48.11 NEKOOSA, WI DAVID MCLAY KIDD, 2018 22 - The Country Club 68.42 46 5 Winged Foot (East) 53.81 H.S. COLT/C.H. ALISON, 1929 (Clyde/Squirrel) BROOKLINE, MA MAMARONECK, NY A.W. TILLINGHAST, 1923 97 21 Sebonack SOUTHAMPTON, NY 42.75 NEW! TCC MEMBERS/WILLIE CAMPBELL, 1899 72 Congaree RIDGELAND, SC 48.10 JACK NICKLAUS/TOM DOAK, 2006 47 9 Yeamans Hall HANAHAN, SC 53.27 TOM FAZIO, 2017 23 15 Somerset Hills BERNARDSVILLE, 65.85 SETH RAYNOR, 1925 98 7 Calusa Pines NAPLES, FL 42.71 NJ A.W. TILLINGHAST, 1918 73 28 Harbour Town HILTON HEAD, SC 47.46 MICHAEL HURDZAN/DANA FRY, 2001 48 17 Rock Creek Cattle Company 53.10 PETE DYE/JACK NICKLAUS, 1969 24 3 Shoreacres LAKE BLUFF, IL 65.33 DEER LODGE, MT TOM DOAK, 2008 99 16 Baltusrol (Upper) SPRINGFIELD, NJ 42.70 SETH RAYNOR, 1921 74 11 Ridgewood (W/E) PARAMUS, NJ 47.43 A.W. TILLINGHAST, 1922 49 21 Whistling Straits (Straits) 52.58 A.W. TILLINGHAST, 1929 1 Garden City GARDEN CITY, NY 64.62 25 HAVEN, WI PETE DYE, 1998 100 27 Cherry Hills CHERRY HILLS 42.50 DEVEREUX EMMET, 1899/WALTER TRAVIS, 1906 Previous page: Jeffrey Westbrook page: Jeffrey Previous VILLAGE, CO WILLIAM FLYNN, 1923
102 GOLF.COM / November-December 2020 103 T OP 1OO
COURSE S in THE U.S.
202020 2021
NATIONAL TREASURES Our 2020 ranking of the best courses in the U.S.A. presents an inescapable conclusion: America possesses an incredibly diverse landscape perfectly suited for golf By Ran Morrissett
America offers an amazing—dare I say, unmatched—golf pal- ette. Unlike in other great golf countries with enviable regions (like Australia and its Sandbelt or Scotland with its linksland), Athe U.S. golf landscape can’t be pegged to a single type of geog- raphy. Additionally, it has welcomed scores of architects over the years willing to adapt to this topographical tapestry. Add it all up and it is an embarrassment of course riches. This point was driven home this summer. After three straight months of “Covid togetherness,” my wife urged me to get back on the road. During one excursion across this great land, on back-to-back days in July, I played Trinity Forest, built on Ballyneal reclaimed land just south of urban Dallas, and Sand Hollow HOLYOKE, CO in southern Utah, whose back nine famously plays along the U.S. No. 34 rim of a canyon. Talk about diversity! West No. 8
104 GOLF.COM / MonthNovember-December 2020 2020 105
counting Sheep Ranch and Pinehurst No. 4, which debut at No. 80 and No. 92 respec- Best in Region tively, as massive renovations.) America, for West sure, is getting her house in order by taking *INDICATES ENTRY IS ALSO A care of what she already had. TOP 100 COURSE IN THE U.S. Significant risers within the rank (based 1 Cypress Point* on their position in 2017) were also the ben- 2 Pebble Beach* 3 Los Angeles (North)* eficiaries of major restorations this century. 4 Riviera* Of the 16 courses experiencing big jumps 5 Pacific Dunes* up the list (defined as a climb of 10 spots 6 San Francisco* 7 California Club or more), 12 are restorations/renovations, of San Francisco* including Sleepy Hollow (up a staggering 60 8 Ballyneal* spots), Bel-Air (+12) and Old Town (+18). If 9 Bandon Trails* 10 Bandon Dunes* we don’t acknowledge how far such courses 11 Rock Creek Cattle have come, we will have failed in our mission. Company* 12 Olympic (Lake)* (The four non-reno big gainers, by the way, 13 Valley Club of Montecito* were all built after World War II.) 14 Pasatiempo* Monitoring restoration and renovation 15 Gamble Sands* 16 Old Macdonald* work is much more involved than judg- 17 Monterey Peninsula ing new builds. A vote for Ohoopee Match (Shore)* 18 Bel-Air* Club is self-evident—the course is only two 19 Gozzer Ranch* years old and was mature when it opened— 20 Sheep Ranch* every rater on our panel got to play the same 21 Shadow Creek* Bel-Air Trinity Forest 22 Monterey Peninsula LOS ANGELES, CA DALLAS, TX course. Contrast that rating experience with (Dunes)* U.S. No. 68 / West No. 18 Heartland No. 41 the one for, say, a place such as Kittansett 23 Nanea* 24 Cherry Hills* Club (No. 58) along Buzzards Bay in Massa- 25 Spyglass Hill chusetts. It has been working with Gil Hanse PEBBLE BEACH, CA At Trinity Forest (No. 41 in the Heart- Mammoth Dunes at Sand Valley (No. 96) for over 20 years (!) to polish its William Flynn 26 Sand Hollow HURRICANE, UT 27 Colorado PARKER, CO Honors Course land), Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw lent the are the only legit built-from-scratch courses design to perfection. Just last winter, Hanse 28 Wilderness Club EUREKA, MT OOLTEWAH, TN barren, treeless landscape a plethora of play- that have debuted since 2017. Moreover, the pushed several of Kittansett’s famous center- 29 Chambers Bay UNIVERSITY PLACE, WA U.S. No. 63 ing characteristics like those at St. Andrews. number of restored or renovated courses fairway mounds farther from the tee boxes to Southeast No. 11 30 Meadow Club FAIRFAX, CA Balls ricochet along tight zoysia fairways— outpaces the new ones by 3 to 1. Specifically, replicate the original playing intent from the 31 Kapalua (Plantation) and hopefully past the numerous central nine of the 17 new entrants to the current list 1920s. Typical of a club that values discre- LAHAINA, HI 32 Forest Highlands (Canyon) hazards that make the course such a strate- were the beneficiary of significant restora- tion, Kittansett doesn’t trumpet such work. FLAGSTAFF, AZ gic marvel. At Trinity, one- and two-feet con- tion/renovation work in recent times. (We’re Nonetheless, staying current is part of our 33 Desert Forest CAREFREE, AZ tours go a long way in determining a shot’s panel’s responsibility; otherwise we would 34 Clear Creek CARSON CITY, NV 35 Stone Eagle PALM DESERT, CA outcome. be voting inadvertently on an outdated ver- 36 Rustic Canyon MOORPARK, CA INSIDE THE RANK: 37 Wilshire LOS ANGELES, CA Meanwhile, Sand Hollow (No. 26 in the DESIGNERS WITH THE MOST sion of a course. 38 Madison Club LA QUINTA, CA COURSES IN THE U.S. TOP 100 West) is in-your-face dramatic. John Fought Unlike resorts, private clubs are less likely 39 Castle Pines CASTLE ROCK, CO and Andy Staples seized on the opportunity to hire public-relations firms to stir up inter- 40 Estancia SCOTTSDALE, AZ 1 DONALD ROSS (10.5) of routing holes that maximized the prop- est. Who knew that Hollywood (No. 83), near 41 We-Ko-Pa (Saguaro) 2 C.B. MACDONALD/SETH RAYNOR (10) FORT MCDOWELL, AZ erty’s natural qualities. One can’t help but the Jersey Shore, had made a concerted effort 42 Eugene EUGENE, OR reflect on the millions of years that went into 3 A.W. TILLINGHAST (9) to restore its Walter Travis playing features 43 Waverley PORTLAND, OR 44 Torrey Pines (South) producing such striking landforms. (Miss a 4 BILL COORE/BEN CRENSHAW (7) via the services of Renaissance Golf Design LA JOLLA, CA shot left on No. 12 and your ball is gone—150 and Brian Schneider? How about the fact that 45 Martis Camp Club 5 PETE DYE (6) feet below the level of the fairway!) Ron Prichard has been at Mountain Ridge TRUCKEE, CA 46 Victory Ranch KAMAS, UT 6 TOM DOAK (5.5) The unifying factor between those two (No. 90) in New Jersey for years, teasing out 47 Scottsdale National courses is first-rate architecture, and that’s 7 ALISTER MACKENZIE (5) Donald Ross’ original plans? The rise of both (The Other Course) what this issue and our Top 100 Courses in courses in our rankings shows that our pan- SCOTTSDALE, AZ T8 TOM FAZIO (4) 48 Broadmoor (West) the U.S. list is engineered to celebrate. In past elists evidently did. COLORADO SPRINGS, CO T8 DAVID MCLAY KIDD (4) rankings, we often did so by focusing mostly Of course, some restoration projects are 49 Black Mesa ESPAÑOLA, NM on new builds. Yet, on this ranking, Ohoopee 10 PERRY MAXWELL (3.5) more well-known than others. Take Oak Hill 50 Crosswater BEND, OR
Match Club (No. 32), Congaree (No. 72) and Dan Reynolds Lambrecht; Schiller; LC left: Evan top Channing Benjamin. Clockwise from spread: Previous (No. 40) in Pittsford, N.Y. The course, one
106 GOLF.COM / November-December 2020 107 Best in Region of America’s preeminent parkland designs, The actions of these clubs send a bru- Southeast closed in September 2019 and reopened this tal message: If you’re not moving forward, Congaree past May. During that nine-month period you’re getting passed. The rub is that “mov- RIDGELAND, SC 1 Augusta National* Best in Region U.S. No. 72 2 Pinehurst (No. 2)* (which included a work interruption for the ing forward” has different meanings. Maybe Southeast No. 12 3 Seminole* Heartland Lake Ontario winter), Andrew Green and you replaced your cart paths? That’s great, 4 Kiawah Island (Ocean crew set about executing their carefully but our panel views golf as a walking sport. Course)* 1 Sand Hills* 5 Ohoopee Match Club* 2 Chicago* devised master plan to eradicate modern Maybe you added ponds to your Golden Age 6 Peachtree* 3 Crystal Downs* vestiges that never felt at home on this Don- course to stiffen the challenge. That’s your 7 Old Town* 4 Prairie Dunes* ald Ross gem. The property was allowed to prerogative. But there’s a renewed appre- 8 TPC Sawgrass (Players 5 Shoreacres* Stadium)* 6 Camargo* breathe again with the removal of some ciation for designs that stimulate recovery 9 Yeamans Hall* 7 Southern Hills* 10 Wade Hampton* 8 Inverness* poorly situated trees (and enhancing the options, not stifle them. Plus, if a course isn’t 11 Honors Course* 9 Oakland Hills (South)* roles played by the ones left behind). The desirable to play on a regular basis, has it 12 Congaree* 10 The Golf Club* work has been met with universal acclaim, done itself any favors? 13 Harbour Town* 11 Whistling Straits (Straits)* 12 Muirfield Village* sending a great signal that Oak Hill realizes Happily, that’s where rankings come in. 14 Streamsong (Red)* 13 Moraine* it’s more than simply a major venue. Inside these pages we highlight the path for- 15 Pinehurst (No. 4)* 14 Milwaukee* 16 Palmetto* 15 White Bear Yacht Club* We’ve seen this trend for two decades ward. Success stories abound. The amount 17 Streamsong (Blue)* 16 St. Louis* now. Golf in America at all levels improves of excellent restoration work being done is 18 Calusa Pines* 17 Kingsley* when the leadership clubs do just that—lead. at a fever pitch and an all-time high. 19 Shoal Creek SHOAL CREEK, AL 18 Prairie Club (Dunes)* 20 McArthur HOBE SOUND, FL 19 Lawsonia (Links)* If our most fabled clubs are content to rest on Additionally, the good news here stateside 21 Tobacco Road SANFORD, NC 20 Wolf Point* their laurels, what message does that send? is that we’re playing on firmer fairways and 22 Mountain Lake 21 Sand Valley (Sand Valley)* The opposite is happening, and that makes harder greens than possibly ever. What a priv- LAKE WALES, FL 22 Sand Valley 23 Roaring Gap (Mammoth Dunes)* getting into the U.S. Top 100 more difficult ilege it was to tour both the Honors Course ROARING GAP, NC 23 Interlachen MINNEAPOLIS, MN than ever. (No. 63) and Trinity Forest in July this year. 24 Quail Hollow CHARLOTTE, NC 24 Scioto COLUMBUS, OH Other giants, including Oakland Hills To see bouncy conditions in the heat of the 25 Long Cove 25 Dismal River (Red) HILTON HEAD ISLAND, SC MULLEN, NE (No. 35) and the Lower Course at Baltusrol summer is wonderful, because those are the 26 Streamsong (Black) 26 Cedar Rapids (No. 69), shut down this year, both embark- very months that many of us play. If global STREAMSONG, FL CEDAR RAPIDS, IA 27 Charlotte CHARLOTTE, NC 27 Davenport ing on transformative restoration projects warming is coming, we’re ready, thanks to 28 Holston Hills KNOXVILLE, TN PLEASANT VALLEY, IA under the practiced hand of Hanse Design. steadfast improvements in tolerant grasses 29 Olde Farm BRISTOL, VA 28 Erin Hills HARTFORD, WI 30 Cascades 29 Beverly CHICAGO, IL Gone will be the wasp-shaped fairways that that are conducive to good golf and to green- HOT SPRINGS, VA 30 Kirtland WILLOUGHBY, OH narrowed in from both sides at Oakland Hills, keepers devoted to presenting their courses 31 Olympia Fields (North) 31 Mid Pines dictating what the golfer was supposed to do in a manner so that options abound. sity has always had reasons the course lagged contrasting colors. Cases in point: dramatic SOUTHERN PINES, NC OLYMPIA FIELDS, IL 32 Forest Dunes (Loop-Red/ from the tee; driving decisions will be more Sadly, one course plummeted for condi- in conditioning, but 2020 was the year when movers Kingsley (unranked to No. 79) and 32 East Lake ATLANTA, GA Black) ROSCOMMON, MI complicated now and in part depend on the tioning, and that was Yale, where everything our panel had had enough. Any design aficio- the Honors Course (+15). 33 GC of Tennessee 33 Whispering Pines KINGSTON SPRINGS, TN TRINITY, TX day’s hole location, as Donald Ross always seemed to go wrong. Its longtime greenkeeper nado finds this turn of events heartbreaking, The highest level of architecture occurs 34 Capital City (Crabapple) 34 Omaha OMAHA, NE intended. Regarding Baltusrol, one of A.W. left in January. Then Covid hit. The course but when will Yale University do right and when the player is given a multitude of WOODSTOCK, GA 35 Crooked Stick CARMEL, IN Tillinghast’s most sophisticated bunkering closed and was maintained only by a skele- treat its prized asset as just that? options in response to both design (width, 35 Grove XXIII 36 Medinah (No. 3) MEDINAH, IL HOBE SOUND, FL 37 Blackwolf Run (River) schemes ever will be reintroduced when the ton crew. Photographs in mid-August showed Across America you’ll find a vast range of short grass) and agronomy (surfaces that 36 Jupiter Hills (Hills) KOHLER, WI course opens again in 2021. Similarly, we an unplayable course in neglect, with some exceptional playing surfaces, from fescue release the ball). Great designs don’t stifle TEQUESTA, FL 38 Old Elm HIGHLAND PARK, IL await to see what renovations Jack Nicklaus greens more brown than green. The univer- fairways in the Pacific Northwest to bermuda bold play; they encourage it. When you leave 37 Dormie Club WEST END, NC 39 Colonial FORT WORTH, TX is cooking up at (No. 51). fairways in the Southeast. Either way, bouncy a course thinking about how you’ll attack 38 Indian Creek INDIAN CREEK, FL 40 Meadowbrook Muirfield Village 39 Mossy Oak WEST POINT, MS NORTHVILLE, MI You can check them out yourself during the conditions can exist year around. Plus, fewer it differently the next time you play it, that 40 Pine Needles 41 Trinity Forest DALLAS, TX SOUTHERN PINES, NC 42 Harvester RHODES, IA PGA Tour’s 2021 Memorial Tournament. INSIDE THE RANK: courses are overseeding during the winter, course has done its job. 41 CC of Charleston 43 Northland DULUTH, MN TOP 100 COURSE DESIGNS PER ERA Next year, Scioto CC in Columbus, Ohio, so instead of rye fairways that offer attrac- As you peruse the various lists in this issue, CHARLESTON, NC 44 Canterbury BEACHWOOD, OH does the same with Andrew Green. Brook tive, verdant playing surfaces but slow down you’ll realize that the days of narrow fairways 42 Chechessee Creek OKATIE, SC 45 Orchard Lake PRE-20TH CENTURY 5 43 Sage Valley GRANITEVILLE, SC W. BLOOMFIELD TOWNSHIP, MI Hollow, a feature-laden Tillinghast in Dal- the ball, you get blazingly quick dormant and flanking bunkers is not what energizes 46 The Country Club 1900–1919 17 44 May River (Palmetto Bluff) las, is reopening the very week this issue hits bermuda. Beauty remains in the eye of the golfers anymore, to say nothing of raters. BLUFFTON, SC PEPPER PIKE, OH 1920–1939 39 47 Victoria National newsstands. This Tillinghast course has long beholder, but increasingly, things that make We want puzzles, conundrums and options. 45 The Blessings NEWBURGH, IN FAYETTEVILLE, AR charmed golfers—and that’s before they shut 1940–1959 2 for better playing surfaces (increased air cir- “Thinking” your way around a course is grati- 48 Brookside COLUMBUS, OH it down and let Keith Foster do his thing. Till- culation, less shade and dormant grasses) are fying and why we keep returning to the sport. 46 Kinloch MANAKIN-SABOT, VA 49 Sutton Bay AGAR, SD 1960–1979 4 47 Ocean Forest SEA ISLAND, GA 50 Hazeltine National inghast’s characteristically bold features are redefining “beauty” all across this country. No doubt, this country of ours had a tough 48 Sea Island (Seaside) CHASKA, MN back in evidence, which are especially neat 1980–1999 8 Additionally, courses that are wall-to-wall year. Yet through it all, its resplendent and SEA ISLAND, GA 49 Diamond Creek BANNER ELK, NC as this is one of the rare sandy sites upon 2000–2020 25 green draw tepid applause compared to those natural beauty—and its courses—remained, 50 World Woods (Pine
which Tillinghast ever worked. Russell Kirk/Golflinksphotography.com that dazzle with grasses rich in texture and graciously lying in wait for golfers to have fun Barrens) BROOKSVILLE, FL
108 GOLF.COM / November-December 2020 109 Best in Region and gain solace. Covid made us all slow down. Ridge, the 6th green at Hollywood or the Northeast When we did, we definitely liked what we saw. 5th green at Somerset Hills confirms as Best in Region THE1 PineNORTHEAST Valley* To amplify on the country’s geographic much. If you’re disgruntled that a particu- 2 Shinnecock Hills* diversity, GOLF has, for the first time, lar course isn’t ranked higher, ask yourself 1.3 PineNational Valley* Golf Links of 2. ShinnecockAmerica* Hills* broken the country into four regions and if its greens are truly special. If they’re fine 3.4 NationalOakmont Golf* Links of Amer- ranked the top 50 in each. Even each region (but not great), you likely have answered ica*5 Merion* 4. Oakmont* 6 Fishers Island* is shockingly diverse. Just look at the West: your own question. Courses most likely 5. Merion* 6.7 FishersFriar’s Island* Head* The Arizona desert is home to a concen- to make the most headway in 2022? You 7.8 Friar’sWinged Head* Foot (West)* tration of courses like few other spots in guessed it: courses with great greens. 8.9 WingedThe Coun Foottry (West)* Club 9. The(Clyde/Squirrel) Country Club (Clyde/* the world. Meanwhile, Wyoming has fewer Squirrel)*10 Somerset Hills* courses per square mile than any in the con- Knocking on the Door 10.11 SomersetGarden City Hills** 11.12 GardenMaidstone City** tiguous states. Prefer a treeless environ? Courses that fell just outside the Top 100 12. Maidstone* 13 Bethpage (Black)* Options abound. Coastal golf your thing? feature more of the same characteristics as 13. Bethpage Park (Black)* 14.14 SleepySleep yHollow* Hollow* Say hello to the five courses (Nos. 19, 38, the courses that actually made it, whether 15.15 QuakerQuaker Ridge* Ridge* 16.16 OakOak Hill Hil (East)*l (East)* 44, 66, 80) at Bandon Dunes. Island golf? you prefer the old-guard style or the new. 17.17 MyopiaMyopia Hunt* Hunt* You have heard of Hawaii, right, and Nanea Restoration work by Ron Forse at two C.H. 18.18 WingedWinged Foot Foot (East)* (East)* (No. 94)? From golf through lava fields to Alison works (Davenport GC in Iowa and 19.19 OldOld Sandwich* Sandwich* 20.20 EastwardEastward Ho!* Ho!* the tops of mountains, the Pacific region Kirtland outside of Cleveland) have both 21. Piping Rock* 21 Piping Rock* 22. Plainfield* alone has you covered. Golden Age gems on the rise. Two of Ron 22 Plainfield* 23. Kittansett* Our hearts break as tens of thousands of Prichard and Tyler Rae’s efforts (Beverly 24.23 PikewoodKittansett National** 25.24 ThePik ewoodCreek* National* jobs in the hospitality and travel industry CC in Chicago and Cedar Rapids) have 26.25 Essex*The Creek* hang in the balance, based on what life will placed even more Donald Ross designs on 27.26 BaltusrolEssex County (Lower)** 28.27 RidgewoodBaltusrol (Lower) (W/E)* * look like on the other side of Covid, but we’re the precipice of Top 100 inclusion as well. 29.28 BaltimoreRidgewood (Five (W /E)Farms* East)* grateful that golf has managed to keep thou- Truth be told, the statistical difference 29 Baltimore 30. Hollywood* Somerset Hills sands of people employed and provide a safe BERNARDSVILLE, NJ between No. 80 on our list (Sheep Ranch) 31. Newport*(Five Farms East)* 32.30 GlensHollywood Falls** release for tens of thousands more. This coun- U.S. No. 23 and No. 120 (Boston GC) is the smallest it 33.31 Aronimink*Newport* try has always flourished because it is a nation Northeast No. 10 has ever been. Interlachen and Erin Hills 34.32 MountainGlens Falls Ridge** 35.33 Sebonack*Aronimink* of doers. Even if your comfort level for travel (both former hosts of our national champi- 36.34 BaltusrolMountain (Upper)* Ridge* has narrowed, our regional breakdown offers onship) fell out of the Top 100 by the tiniest 37.35 PhiladelphiaSebonack* Cricket (Wissa- hickon), Flourtown, PA 36 Baltusrol (Upper)* must-plays in your area you can reach by car. is that the courses with the best greens con- of margins. So did longtime stalwart Scioto, 38. Fox Chapel, Pittsburgh, PA 39.37 Lancaster,Philadelphia Lancaster, Cricket PA If a course is anywhere on our rankings, we The Pandemic Effect INSIDE THE RANK: tinue their dominance on the list. It starts with but both the club and the panel are keen to 40. Whippoorwill,(Wissahickon) Armonk, FLOURTOWN, NY PA guarantee you’re in for a treat. Covid certainly manifested itself in this STATES WITH THE MOST Pine Valley (No. 1, again), which many argue see a purer version of Ross’ original effort 41.38 Boston,Fox Chapel Hingham, PITTSBURGH, MA PA COURSES IN THE U.S. 42.39 St.Lancaster George’s, LANCASTER, East Setauket, PA year’s rank. Some clubs adopted a “no TOP 100 has the country’s best set in terms of contour versus the one that exists today. Scioto shuts NY40 Whippoorwill ARMONK, NY Missing Pete guests” policy, which precluded our pan- and variety. As much as the course’s fierce next year, and when our next U.S. ballot rolls 43. Wannamoisett, Rumford, RI 41 Boston HINGHAM, MA For the first time since GOLF published its elists from visiting many private courses. NEW YORK 16 appearance, Pine Valley’s greens have kept it out in 2022, don’t be surprised to see it make 44.42 Atlantic,St. George’s Bridgehampton, NY EAST SETAUKET, NY inaugural U.S. Top 100 ranking in 1983, Pete From a travel perspective, our global pan- CALIFORNIA 12 glued to the top of our rankings for decades. a concerted charge. 45. Wykagyl, New Rochelle, NY 43 Wannamoisett RUMFORD, RI 46. Sankaty Head, Nantucket, Dye is not among us. The course design icon elists ceased stateside visits in February, yet NEW JERSEY 8 As the USGA moves toward rethinking a Also, since reimagining the makeup and 44 Atlantic BRIDGEHAMPTON, NY MA passed away in January of this year. Yet his because of the travel ban, our U.S.-based new rota of U.S. Open venues, other house- marching orders of the GOLF ranking panel 47.45 PeteWykagyl Dye, Bridgeport,NEW ROCHELLE, WV NY FLORIDA 5 48.46 CongressionalSankaty Head (Blue), influence is strongly felt throughout these panelists were able to see more courses in hold-name courses with great greens—Oak- in 2019, there appears to be a willingness to Bethesda, NANTUCKET, MD MA pages. He leaves behind a litany of great lay- America than they might have otherwise. MASSACHUSETTS 5 mont (No. 5), Pinehurst No. 2 (No. 11) embrace different forms of architecture like 49.47 CCPete of Fairfield,Dye BRIDGEPORT, Fairfield, WV CT 50.48 HuntingdonCongressional Valley, (Blue) Hunting - outs (six in the Top 100, four of which are in Thus, 2020 turned out to be a very fine year OHIO 5 and Winged Foot (No. 15)—are sure to take never before. (Kingsley’s inclusion at No. don Valley, PA BETHESDA, MD the Top 50) as well as numerous protégés. for introspection for our U.S. crew. Although center stage. Also, take a look at the list of 79 is an example.) Mike Strantz’s Tobacco 49 CC of Fairfield FAIRFIELD, CT OREGON 5 50 Huntingdon Valley Without trying to simplify a complex topic, we will never know how the results would the architects with the most courses rep- Road has its highest finish ever (No. 123) and SOUTH CAROLINA 5 HUNTINGDON VALLEY, PA Dye imparted some key truths to all archi- have been tweaked in the absence of the pan- resented (page 107). What’s the connec- Tom Doak’s reversible course in Michigan tects: Be on-site, get dirt under your nails demic, we’re confident that these rankings NORTH CAROLINA 4 tion? They were/are master green builders! (Forest Dunes, No. 115) also joins the Top
The celebration and make it happen yourself. His disciples remain the game’s best and most thought- As the restoration effort continues to gain 120. Given that golf’s ultimate appeal is its continues on GOLF.com include Bill Coore and Tom Doak—of the fully considered. momentum and greens are pushed back dazzling array of diverse playing fields, this with expanded photo living architects, these designers appear the to their original edges, it’s wonderful to is a very encouraging and exciting trend. The galleries, full lists and most in our U.S. Top 100, with seven and five- Greens with Envy see lesser-known gems like Ross’ Bev- aforementioned Sand Hollow—something video field guides. Plus, and-a-half original works, respectively. Pete Overstating the importance of greens is nigh erly and Mountain Ridge or Travis’ Holly- straight out of a science-fiction movie— learn how we vote and was an original, too, and along with his wife, impossible. For starters, they’re the targets wood or Tillinghast’s Somerset Hills gain might even make it in, which would be a meet the folks who determine our course Alice, did as much to shape modern archi- for every golf hole ever built! One easily iden- appropriate fame. Just one look at Bever- first for Utah. Trust us: If design excellence is rankings. tecture as anyone. tifiable characteristic of this year’s rankings Russell Kirk/Golflinksphotography.com ly’s 17th green, the 8th green at Mountain out there, our panel will find it. Stay tuned.
110 GOLF.COM / November-December 2020 111 112
GOLF.COM / November-December 2020 AMERICA the West No. 26 HURRICANE, UT Sand Hollow T COURSES 2020 20 OP 1OO THE
U.S. 2021 202 in
opportunity. designers throughout time have rightfully pounced onthe Club)100 list(The to Country the youngest (Sheep Ranch), creative expression. And from the oldest course onour Top and fruited plains buffeted by two shining seas—is ripe for Our country’s topography grain,purple—amber mountains This isthe pursuit of happiness...
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Pebble Beach PEBBLE BEACH, CA U.S. No. 10 West No. 2
Monterey Peninsula (Shore), PEBBLE BEACH, CA U.S. No. 67 / West No. 17
“PLAYING THE SHORE COURSE IS A RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE. MIKE STRANTZ’S REVERSAL OF THE ORIGINAL ROUTING AND HIS CUNNING IN BLENDING HIS VISION WITH THE LAY OF THE LAND RESULTED IN, WELL, A MASTERPIECE.”
—Top 100 rater Jack Bonner left: Gary Lisbon; Channing Benjamin page: @BrianOar; This page, from Previous
114 GOLF.COM / November-December 2020 Bandon Dunes BANDON, OR U.S. No. 44 West No. 10
“GOZZER RANCH IS PICTURESQUE AND STRATEGIC—A STANDOUT FAZIO DESIGN WITH A BIT OF EVERYTHING. AS WITH ANY ELITE COURSE, POSITIONING HERE WINS OVER POWER.” —Top 100 rater Adam Messix
Gozzer Ranch HARRISON, ID U.S. No. 70 West No. 19 From left: Jeffrey R. Bertch; @BrianOar R. Bertch; left: Jeffrey From
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Stone Eagle PALM DESERT, CA West No. 35
California Club of San Francisco SO. SAN FRANCISCO, CA U.S. No. 27 West No. 7
Rock Creek Cattle Company DEER LODGE, MT U.S. No. 48
From left: Channing Benjamin; Evan Schiller (2) left: Channing Benjamin; Evan From West No. 11
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COURSE S in Gamble Sands THE U.S. BREWSTER, WA 202020 2021 U.S. No. 61 West No. 15 Lawsonia (Links) GREEN LAKE, WI U.S. T87 Heartland No. 19
“LAWSONIA INITIALLY OVERWHELMS YOU WITH THE SCALE OF ITS FEATURES. THEN YOU’RE CONSUMED BY THE CARRY ANGLES AND DECISIONS. BOTH, HOWEVER, PALE TO THE INTRICATE DETAIL AND Prairie Club (Dunes) VALENTINE, NE MOVEMENT ON U.S. No. 82 THE GREENS.”
Heartland No. 18 —Top 100 rater Ian Andrew Egg; @Brian Oar left: @BrianOar; Andy Johnson/The Fried top Clockwise from
120 GOLF.COM / November-December 2020 Prairie Dunes HUTCHINSON, KS U.S. No. 18 Heartland No. 4
Kingsley KINGSLEY, MI U.S. No. 79 Heartland No. 17
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Chicago WHEATON, IL U.S. No. 14 Heartland
No. 2 Lambrecht Egg (2); LC left: Andy Johnson/The Fried From
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COURSE S in THE U.S. TPC Sawgrass (Players Stadium), PONTE VEDRA BEACH, FL 202020 2021 U.S. No. 45 / Southeast No. 8
Ohoopee Match Club COBBTOWN, GA U.S. No. 32 Southeast No. 5
“SAWGRASS IS THE MASTERPIECE EXPRESSION OF THE ULTRA-CONTEMPORARY STYLE. IT’S A COMPLETELY INSPIRING VISUAL, STRATEGIC AND GEOMETRIC JOURNEY, OFFERING SHOT VALUES AND BALANCE YOU DON’T FIND ANYWHERE ELSE.”
From left: Andy Johnson/The Fried Egg; Ollie Neglerio left: Andy Johnson/The Fried From —Top 100 rater Greg Nathan
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Hollywood DEAL, NJ U.S. No. 83 Northeast No. 30
Pinehurst (No. 4) PINEHURST, NC U.S. No. 92 Southeast No. 15
National Golf Links of Amercia SOUTHAMPTON, NY U.S. No. 4
Northeast No. 3 Museum Smith; USGA Chip Henderson; William Tyler bottom: to top Opposite,
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COURSE S in THE U.S. Quaker Ridge SCARSDALE, NY 202020 2021 U.S. No. 39 / Northeast No. 15
Sankaty Head NANTUCKET, MA Northeast No. 46
“SANDY, TREELESS NANTUCKET ALLOWS EVERY HOLE AT SANKATY HEAD TO INTERACT DIFFERENTLY WITH THE WIND. AS TOM DUNN, ONE OF THE ORIGINAL PLAYER-ARCHITECTS, WROTE MORE THAN A CENTURY AGO, ‘THE ESSENCE OF GOLF IS A MATTER OF JUDGMENT.’ ” —Top 100 rater Jim Urbina
Oak Hill (East) PITTSFORD, NY U.S. No. 40
LC Lambrect; Opposite: Evan Schiller (2) Evan Opposite: Lambrect; LC Northeast No. 16
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202020 2021 8. Which architect is not also a major champion? INTELLIGENT
A B C D WILLIE WILLIAM J.H. TOM DESIGN PARK JR. FLYNN TAYLOR WEISKOPF How smart are you when it comes to course architects and architecture? 5. George C. Thomas Jr., You’re about to find out. designer of Riviera Country Club, wrote two books on… 9. Match the architect with his mentor. BY EVAN ROTHMAN A ROSE BREEDING A 1 B TULIP BREEDING C HORSE BREEDING TOM DOAK STANLEY THOMPSON D COW BREEDING 1. Which design partners’ 3. Which architect is not Irish? B 2 names are out of order? ROBERT ROBERT A COORE & CRENSHAW 6. Which Golden Age archi- TRENT JONES TRENT JONES JR. B FRY & HURDZAN tect’s nickname was “Steam C COLT & ALISON Shovel,” a machine he liked C 3 D CURLEY & SCHMIDT to use to create elevated and KYLE PHILLIPS PETE DYE E MARTINI & ROSSI cavernous bunkers?
D 4 A B C D 2. Which architect TOM EDDIE MARTIN PAT MIKE STRANTZ TOM FAZIO CRADDOCK HACKETT HAWTREE RUDDY is not Scottish?
4. Alister MacKenzie made his home at 10. Whose most famous work is which of his creations? Augusta National’s Par 3 Course?
A B C D AUGUSTA CYPRESS PASATIEMPO THE VALLEY CLUB NATIONAL POINT OF MONTECITO A JAMES BRAID A B B WILLIAM P. BELL TOM OLD TOM C WILLIAM H. FOWLER McBROOM MORRIS D CHARLES BANKS
7. Which architect’s name has been reversed—last name, first name? A PROSPER ELLIS A B C D B C D FORREST FEZLER GEORGE GEORGE GEORGE GEORGE WILLIE DONALD C EMMET DEVEREUX COBB FAZIO DUNCAN JETSON PARK JR. ROSS D ROBERT HUNTER
130 GOLF.COM / November-December 2020 131 TOP 100 COURSES IN THE U.S.
11. Speaking of Georges, 16. Which template hole 19. Which template hole 20. Which is not a George Crump designed refers to the green, did not originate at renowned book on golf one course, and only one not the fairway? The Old Course at course architecture? course, before dying, A DOUBLE PLATEAU St. Andrews? A THE CONFIDENTIAL GUIDE possibly of suicide, pos- B HOGSBACK A EDEN TO GOLF COURSES sibly due to an infected C LEVEN B MAIDEN B THE EVANGELIST OF GOLF tooth. That course is… D VALLEY C ROAD C THE SPIRIT OF ST. ANDREWS D EVERY TEMPLATE D GOLF ARCHITECTURE IN HOLE ORIGINATED AMERICA AT THE OLD COURSE E THEY’RE ALL RENOWNED, 17. Which template hole AT ST. ANDREWS. DAMMIT. refers to the fairway,
A B not the green? A BOTTLE CYPRESS FISHERS 12. C.B. POINT ISLAND B KNOLL Macdonald’s C LION’S MOUTH ANSWER KEY famous D PUNCHBOWL “lost course” 1. B The duo split is responsible for thoughtful play. amicably in 2012 after Shinnecock Hills and 18. A Among golf’s was called… a 15-year run that had a big hand in most-famous and included creating Merion’s East course, most-copied designs, 2017 U.S. Open host so he still has major Redan, the par-3 15th, C D A B C D 18. The Redan Erin Hills (with Ron cred. has a stroke index of 14. PINE CRUMP ISLAND LIDO ROCKAWAY MACDONALD hole originated at Whitten). 9. A-3, B-1, C-2, D-4 19. B The original VALLEY NATIONAL PARK NATIONAL 2. A The Canadian 10. A His best-known can be found at designed the Links full-size course may England’s Royal St. at Crowbush Cove, be Quail Hollow Club in George’s; a Maiden has among other great Charlotte, N.C. a green with a gully 13. Which of these people was not a north-of-the-border 11. C More than between raised back- 14. The term “sand layouts. 20,000 tree stumps left and back-right golf course architect? capping” refers to… 3. C The Englishman were pulled out sections. A A the use of bunkers to increase the built Trump during Pine Valley’s 20. E A is by Tom NORTH BERWICK difficulty of any given hole International Golf construction, by Doak, B is by George Links in Scotland and winches and horse- Bahto, C is by B the practice of adding a layer of restored Ballybunion drawn cables. Alister MacKenzie sand atop existing soils to improve the and Royal Birkdale, for 12. B 1948 Masters and D is by George C. fairways’ eventual turfgrass growth starters. champion Claude Thomas. 4. C His home was just Harmon called it and playing conditions HOW YOU SCORE off the 6th fairway, “the greatest golf C the placement of a bunker and MacKenzie’s course ever.” 0–9 CORRECT behind a green to catch overhit B gravesite is there, too. 13. A We made him up ANSWERS: THIS ISN’T approach shots SOUTH BERWICK 5. A He also cultivated (as far as we know). THE TIME OR PLACE some 1,200 varieties 14. B It’s especially TO BE A SINGLE DIGIT. A B D the odds that a player can extricate of roses, including his handy in areas with 10–14 CORRECT HERBERT HOMER his or her ball from a bunker own hybrids. low-quality irrigation ANSWERS: YOU FAIRWAY FIELDHOUSE 6. D In addition water and fine- KNOW JUST ENOUGH to overseeing textured soils. TO BE DANGEROUS. construction of Yale 15. C Having 15–19 CORRECT GC for Seth Raynor originated in, where ANSWERS: 15. A “bye” hole is… and C.B. Macdonald, he else, Scotland. GOLFCLUBATLAS. C A one that plays to a green surrounded designed Whippoorwill 16. A The putting COM WILL WELCOME OLD SANDWICH by water on three sides in Westchester, N.Y., surface features YOUR COMMENTS and Hawaii’s Waialae. two raised sections WITH OPEN ARMS. B one that players, by local rule, can agree 7. C He built the separate from each 20 CORRECT in advance to skip in match-play format original Garden City other. ANSWERS: C one that follows the course GC (later rebuilt by 17. A Such a hole CONGRATULATIONS! proper, meant to settle any Walter Travis), among features a fairway THAT PH.D. many great East Coast narrowed, bisected or DISSERTATION C D incomplete bets or games courses. segmented to increase ON SETH RAYNOR D CHARLES BOBBY D one that you never, ever want 8. B But this boyhood the risk of longer tee REALLY CAME IN REDHEAD WEED to see again THE OLD COURSE friend of Francis Ouimet shots and encourage HANDY!
132 GOLF.COM / November-December 2020 133 Bud Chapman didn’t design courses. He
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COURSE S in dreamed them, THE U.S. making him— 202020 2021 and his career JUST A KID on and off the AT HEART course—larger By Joshua Berhow
Below: Bud Chapman in his home studio, Trea- sure Island, Fla., 1993. Opposite: No. 1, Victoria than life. Falls Golf Course, 168 yards, par 3.
134 partners wondered how he didn’t lose more of his stuff. He scribbled swing tips in the leftover white space of his score- cards in handwriting that resembled hieroglyphics. (“I’m just trying to find the secret,” he’d say.) Calling him messy might be too kind. He kept bank statements and receipts and score- cards in grocery bags, and his son had to tear his dad’s Florida home apart looking for his last will and testament. He finally found it in a bent folder in a canvas bag that was sitting at the bottom of a tall laundry basket buried under dozens of golf magazines and bags. The folder read: “Important document. Don’t throw away.” He was a kid at heart, really, a 97-year-old with candy bars left in his golf bag. He once delayed a trip back home to Min- nesota from his winter place in Florida because Disney World was unveiling a new ride, and he had to check it out. That was just a few years ago. Loyal H. “Bud” Chapman was a brilliant artist, talented golfer “He almost had an innocence of a child,” says David Chap- and gifted storyteller. He made piles of money in commer- man, one of Bud’s four kids, along with Greg, Julie and Jen- cial art and later with his Infamous 18 Golf Holes—a series nifer. “That’s how he lived life. He woke up and everything Lof stunning watercolor fantasy holes mapped out around the was about fun.” globe that teased the budding course designer in all of us (and Chapman was a member at both Hazeltine National and probably a few others mentioned in our Top 100 list). When Minneapolis Golf Club. He was a prominent figure at both, he died of a heart attack this past summer at age 97, Chap- but not just because of his famous past and sharp game. He man left behind a legacy matched by few in the golf world or was a joy to be around. Richard Walker was one of Chapman’s any world. The Minnesota native shot his age nearly 4,000 regular golf partners over the past decade. He still remem- times and tried to qualify for 47 U.S. Opens, some attempts bers the first time they met. Bud smiled, held out his hand falling short in heartbreaking fashion. But that’s only a frac- and looked him in the eye. tion of his legacy. “The way he greeted people was incredible,” says Walker. He was known to apply to tournaments several times (for- “It was as if he knew them, and with compassion. He’d talk to getting he already had) and to show up for events on the wrong anyone, whether he knew them or not, and when they walked week. When he was inducted into the Minnesota Golf Hall of away, they were better for it because he made people feel good, Fame in the 1990s, he went to the wrong club for the ceremony. just for the warmth of who he was. And that was the incred- He used a 54-inch driver—before the USGA reduced the limit ible thing about him. Not his paintings or his golfing ability, to 48 inches—and despised headcovers. Too fussy. Same with but the way he made others feel. He had time for people.” golf-bag zippers, so he always kept his pockets open; playing Chapman was born in Minneapolis on January 27, 1923. He grew up painting with his mother, and he was a wizard with a brush. But he had other loves, too. He started caddying at posh Interlachen Country Club—where Bobby Jones won the third leg of the grand slam in 1930—when he was 12 years old, often grabbing the bag for legendary women’s player Patty Berg for 75 cents a loop (plus tip). After serving in World War II, he enrolled at Walker Art School in Minneapolis. He opened his own studio and had much success as a commercial artist—his paintings were so perfect they were mistaken for photos. He mastered trans- parency retouching at a time when few even knew how to do it. He was commissioned from all over the U.S., including
Left: Bud in the Chapman Art Studio, Minnetonka, Minn., 2000. Opposite, clockwise from top left: No. 17, Wall Street Golf & Cricket Club, 85 yards, par 2; No. 7, Desert Winds Municipal Golf Course, 39 yards, par 3; No. 5, Big Sur Golf & Country Club, 311 yards, par 4; No. 6, Fujiyama Gardens Country Club, 290 yards, par 4.
136 GOLF.COM / November-December 2020 137 2014 interview. “As soon as I said that, an explosion hit me, Opposite, clockwise from left: Bud with Arnold Palmer at the U.S. ified for the U.S. Senior Open at Hazeltine at age 60, and Stories of Chapman’s adventures Senior Open, Hazeltine, 1983; with Gary Player at the Dayton’s and I said, why not paint golf holes, infamous golf holes, and Challenge, 1998; with Dave Hill at Minneapolis Golf Course, early through 15 holes he was the tournament leader at two under. have been well-documented. put them in the best places in the world, and make them so 1970s. Above: The 19th Hole. The 16th is Hazeltine’s signature hole—a par 4 with a forced Some are so perfect they are hard difficult people won’t know if they are real or not.” carry off the tee, a creek left, Hazeltine Lake right and a nar- The whole Chapman crew—Bud and his wife, Mitzi, raised and others. To this day, his work is featured prominently in row green awaiting—and Greg, who often caddied for his to believe—but there are bits of their family in St. Louis Park, Minn.—pitched in with the new- clubhouses, locker rooms, offices, in books, calendars and father, talked his dad into hitting a 3-wood off the tee. Bud truth in all of them. est venture. “His plan was to get us all in business so he could more. Some collectors want individual holes and others buy had been pushing his driver right most of the day. Bud com- play more golf,” says Greg, only half-joking. “And it worked.” sets or the complete collection. Around a half million have plied, hit 3-wood and pulled it into the creek, making dou- David credits his dad’s trips to New Mexico as inspiration for been sold overall. ble. “He blew his lead pretty fast, and I never heard the end major markets like New York City and Chicago. There are his Infamous 18 Golf Holes. He believes the stunning vistas Chapman is believed to have painted more than 50 dream of it,” Greg says. “He played it the next day, hit driver and stories of Chapman bringing in completed work to art direc- and breathtaking topography of the southwest—mixed with golf holes altogether, some of which were commissioned. He made birdie.” (Billy Casper ended up winning in a playoff tors, only to be greeted by competitors, some of whom turned his dad’s love for National Geographic and golf—led to him was the ideal artist for these projects because he was just as against Rod Funseth.) down the project because they said it couldn’t be done. They visualizing all of those fantastical holes. good with a golf club as he was with a paintbrush. He had an Qualifying for the U.S. Open became Chapman’s white had to see how he did it. Chapman finished his first painting,Victoria Falls Golf intense knowledge, appreciation and love for both. Accord- whale, although he didn’t start the pursuit until he was in his The money was good. But adventure tempted. Chapman Club, in 1972, and he sent his first four toGolf Digest. Instead ing to David, his father shot his age 3,899 times, the first 40s. He was featured during a U.S. Open broadcast in 2005. met a prospector in the early 1970s and heard about all the of asking for payment he requested a free ad—and business when he was 68. (Bud kept track.) But that’s selling the feat That year he was 82, the oldest of some 9,000 entrants vying gold and silver ensconced in the New Mexico mountains. He boomed. “The first couple of years was gangbusters,” David short: He actually shot well below his age thousands of times. for a spot at Pinehurst; he carried his own bag on a cold and couldn’t pass on the opportunity. says. They hired help, got a warehouse and still continued He won the Minnesota Senior Amateur twice and the Min- rainy day and shot 86, missing out by 14. He did twice advance “I had to go and join him and see what I could do, but I went with the commercial art business. Chapman completed the nesota Senior Open once, was named the Minnesota Golf through local qualifying to sectionals. One year, in Chicago, completely bust on it, lost everything, and I had to find another Infamous 18 Golf Holes in 1982, and they drew attention from Association’s Senior Player of the Year in three different he needed to play the last two holes in even par to qualify,
grubstake to make some more money,” Chapman said in a other national publications, including Reader’s Digest, GOLF Chapman Studios All photos: decades and is in numerous halls of fame. In 1983 he qual- but he doubled the 17th. Another close call came in Detroit.
138 GOLF.COM / November-December 2020 139 Opposite, clockwise from top left: No. 11, Larsen Ice Shelf, Antarctica to conquer his own design he finally quipped, “You know, I Country Club, 463 yards, par 4; No. 15, Wild River Golf & Hiking Club, have to tell you, this golf course is too hard to play.” 175 yards, par 3; No. 15, Caverns Country Club, 135 yards, par 3; No. 4, Grand Canyon Country Club, 287 yards, par 4. Below: No. 14, There was that time when Chapman attended his first The Hole of 10,000 Lakes, 235 yards, par 3. Faithfully reproduced prints of the Infamous 18 are available at tpkgolf.com. Masters, in 2016, with Walker and another one of his golf buddies. The group was crossing the fairway on the par-5 15th when Bud suddenly slowed down. Few dared to linger “I was four or five shots ahead of Sam Snead and Frank in the fairways of Augusta National, but Chapman had other Stranahan in the last round with two holes to play when I got plans. He stopped in the middle and started taking slow, to a par 4,” Chapman told Sports Illustrated in a 1998 profile. methodical swings toward the green. Eventually, he turned “I drove the darn thing in the morning round, and I’m getting to his friends and said, “I’m not sure I could stop the ball on ready to hit when the caddie says, ‘Mr. Chapman, you’ve got the green from here.” it made. Just take an iron.’ I thanked him because it was the “He was always in his own world, in the best way possi- right thing to do. So I pulled out a 2-iron and hit it straight ble,” Walker says. “He had just a creative mind, but he’d let into the worst garbage you could imagine. people into it.” “I’m still okay,” he continued. “All I need is a double or Chapman’s final round was on March 20 at Seminole Lake, triple on the last hole to qualify because I had that lead. It a semi-private club with wide fairways and water everywhere was a par 3, and jeez, I hit this 6-iron, and I thought it was in Seminole, Fla., where Chapman was a regular in Tues- going in the hole. It embedded in the bank in front of the day and Thursday men’s games, usually for $20. He shot 89. green, but not too bad, and the pin was only about 10 feet Three days after their father’s death, David, Greg and two away. The embedded ball rule wasn’t invented yet, so I go friends went to Brookview Golf Course in the Twin Cities. up there and just tap the ball to get it out—and it goes in a lit- They all used Bud’s PING G400 with the full-length Code Blue tle deeper. So I tap it again, and it goes in deeper. [Laughs] 48-inch shaft (no headcover) off the 1st tee. Everyone striped Now it’s starting to get serious. I did that four or five times, their in-memoriam blasts down the center, except for David. and finally I closed the blade like a sand shot and exploded He pulled his left and made double bogey. That’s golf: per- it out to about 40 feet. From there I four-putted and missed fect game, impossible to perfect. Bud Chapman knew that. qualifying by one.” He added, playfully: “I have a tendency to choke.” Stories of Chapman’s adventures have been well-docu- mented. Everyone has their favorite. Some are so perfect they are hard to believe—details fuzzy or a prisoner of time—but there are bits of truth everywhere. There was that time when Chapman was an Army pilot in World War II and flew B-29s, but never went overseas. The war ended with him on the airstrip in Tucson, Ariz., ready to take off for a mission. Yet there were rumors the gener- als were reluctant to send him in the first place. One day he was called into a superior’s office and thought he was about to catch an earful—he always had trouble keeping his bed tidy—but the colonel had other things on his mind. “Bud, I hear you got your golf clubs with you and that you are a pretty good player?” he asked. Turns out, the brass didn’t want to lose a great golf partner. There was that time when Chapman beat an 18-year-old Tiger Woods in a long-drive contest at the 1994 Porter Cup, a top amateur event. Although Woods hit it a touch farther than Bud’s low piercing drive that cut through the high winds, Woods didn’t find the fairway. So, technically, Bud beat him, as he liked to say. There was that time when Chapman finally took on his own creation, when he first played the Infamous 18 Golf Holes on a simulator. It was a small get together in an office, and he basically shut the place down. After several attempts trying